Commons Sense

House of Commons · Westminster Hall

Covid-19: NHS Support for Prostate Cancer Patients — [Siobhain McDonagh in the Chair]

10 March 2022 · 4 other contributors · 8,460 words

Opened by Elliot Colburn Con Carshalton and Wallington

Responding minister: Maria Caulfield

NHS

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Elliot Colburn raised concerns about covid-19: nhs support for prostate cancer patients — [siobhain mcdonagh in the chair] in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.

Key points

  • Elliot Colburn is concerned about the impact of the covid-19 pandemic on prostate cancer diagnosis rates, citing fewer referrals and potentially 3,500 late-stage diagnoses.
  • Colburn urges the Government to destigmatise men coming forward for prostate cancer checks and calls for more investment in clinical nurse specialists and non-medical practitioner-led clinics.
  • The Minister acknowledged the importance of prostate cancer awareness, noting over 330,000 urgent referrals and more than 170,000 urological cancer treatments between March 2020 and December 2021.

Key requests to Government

Colburn urges the Government to destigmatise men coming forward for checks and address disparities in imaging capacity such as mpMRI provision. He also calls for more investment in clinical nurse specialists and non-medical practitioner-led clinics to support the prostate cancer workforce.

How the debate unfolded

MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.

Opened the debate

Elliot Colburn Con Carshalton and Wallington

Elliot Colburn is concerned about the impact of the covid-19 pandemic on prostate cancer diagnosis rates. He cites over 47,000 new cases annually and a death every 45 minutes from prostate cancer. The 'stay at home' messaging has deterred men from getting tested, leading to fewer referrals and diagnoses, with 50,000 fewer referrals for suspected prostate cancer patients than usual trends predict. This could result in 3,500 late-stage diagnoses due to missed early detection opportunities.

Other contributors (4)
  • Feryal Clark Lab Enfield North

    The pandemic has exacerbated existing challenges in NHS cancer care, with performance against targets declining and a backlog of cases. Prostate cancer patients are facing unacceptably long waits for treatment due to the Government's mismanagement before the crisis. The speaker called on the Minister to provide concrete steps to address the situation rather than more consultations. She also highlighted the importance of awareness campaigns but stressed the need for accessible diagnosis pathways and a robust workforce strategy.

  • Jim Shannon DUP Strangford

    He highlighted the impact of prostate cancer, noting that one in six men will be diagnosed with it and over 47,000 new cases occur annually. He shared a personal story about a friend who received early diagnosis and treatment, stressing the importance of raising awareness and addressing workforce shortages and access to MRI scans.

  • Nicholas Fletcher Con Welwyn Hatfield

    There is no men's health strategy in the UK, where one in five men dies before retirement. Prostate cancer claims 30 lives daily, and screening could save thousands of lives annually. A simple prostate-specific antigen blood test can identify high-risk individuals, leading to early diagnosis and treatment.

  • Steven Bonnar SNP Coatbridge, Chryston and Bellshill

    Stressed the importance of early prostate cancer diagnosis due to lack of awareness and impact during the pandemic. Highlighted Scotland's higher GP provision compared to UK average. Emphasized that most cancer treatments continued in Scotland despite lockdowns.

Government Response

Maria Caulfield

Acknowledged the importance of prostate cancer awareness and diagnosis, noting over 330,000 urgent referrals and more than 170,000 urological cancer treatments between March 2020 and December 2021. Highlighted NHS staff's efforts to maintain treatment levels at 94% despite workforce challenges. Emphasized the use of mpMRI technology for better diagnosis, with an increase from 335 people in 2016 to 11,000 by 2020. Discussed ongoing initiatives such as a cancer risk-awareness campaign and 'Help Us Help You' NHS campaign to raise awareness about prostate cancer symptoms and encourage early referrals. Mentioned the need for further research into more accurate screening tests and improvements in treatments with fewer side effects. Announced £5.9 billion of additional capital funding, including £2.3 billion for diagnostic activity in community diagnostic centres, aiming to deliver 4.5 million additional scans by 2024-25.

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